The 3-1/2-foot-tall, egg-shaped device, developed by the Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST), has a TV display screen for a face. The human teachers can see and listen to the students through the remote link and can direct the robots to move around the classroom, “dance” to music, play educational games and sing songs with the children.

“Well-educated, experienced Filipino teachers are far cheaper than their counterparts elsewhere, including South Korea,” he told AFP.

Apart from reading books, the robots use pre-programmed software to sing songs and play alphabet games with the children.

“The kids seemed to love it since the robots look, well, cute and interesting. But some adults also expressed interest, saying they may feel less nervous talking to robots than a real person,” said Kim Mi-Young, an official at Daegu city education office.

Robots may be sent to rural areas where foreign English teachers are reluctant to work. However, Kim said the experiment isn’t designed to replace human teachers. “We are helping upgrade a key, strategic industry and all the while giving children more interest in what they learn.”

“Having robots in the classroom makes the students more active in participating, especially shy ones afraid of speaking out to human teachers,” Kim said.

Korean scientists have been experimenting with using robots to teach math, science and other subjects.

“They won’t complain about health insurance, sick leave and severance package, or leave in three months for a better-paying job in Japan,” Sagong said.

Replaced by robots? It can’t happen soon enough in the US. This couldn’t happen to a more deserving crew.

Years ago our paper reported a story from some part of the Western US, about a hiker who suffered a broken leg. His companion made the injured hiker as comfortable as possible and hiked out for help. Before the rescue party arrived a brown bear found the injured hiker. The rescue party recovered scraps of bloody clothing and shards of bone.

Virtual schools and computer-guided, self-paced instruction will do to conventional schools automation did to Chrystler and GM, and what that bear did to the crippled hiker.

This almost eliminates the issue of under-served areas. If teaching by robot-avatar can be done between any two places with broadband internet, the teacher can be nearly anywhere and can handle classes almost anywhere.

I expect that Hawaii will become a popular home for remote-teachers. Early mornings handling classes, the rest of the day at the beach.